Roman Aqueducts carrying water from the various mountains
Aqueducts Aqueducts helped Rome flourish by keeping the citizens healthy with mountain water and later the sewage removed the waste to another location. At the peak of the Roman Empire, it had over 260 miles of aqueducts transporting water with about 30 visible arched structures. “Other Roman colonies that were deprived of a water source soon had aqueducts to supply them with the "source of life"." (Ancient Roman Architecture) Over eleven separate aqueducts supplied the city of Rome and were all built in just 500 years. "Most of the waterway system ran below ground and channels were bored through rock, or dug below the surface which carried the water." (Ancient Roman Aqueducts) After reaching the city the water would flow into cisterns (castella) or a large reservoir where it would run through lead pipes to public fountains, baths and private villas that tapped into the network. When Rome had reached over one million inhabitants, they were capable of delivering up to 1 cubic meter of water per person in the city. The Roman Aqueduct Arches
Arches were built to transport the water through a valley
The arch was originally invented by the Etruscans and later advanced by the Romans. The arches were held together by a keystone and with the use of volcanic concrete; they were able to build stronger bridges and could support enormous weight, like the Pantheon. Arches were use to move water down into valleys or up hillsides – if not underground. By using arches, the Romans were able to utilize less material .Arches were built when aqueducts were positioned higher than 2 meters and Romans utilized this technology to" 'bridge' a gap in the terrain and to prevent a long detour, especially to cross a valley or a river, a bridge for the aqueduct conduit was built ." (Roman Aqueducts)
Roman Road
Purpose Roman Roads Roman roads, called viae, exceeded 80,000 km and the ancient saying was that “all roads lead to Rome.” They were essential for growth of the empire which were used to transport the armies, trade goods – short traffic - and communication – network of postal stations.
Construction Their were several types of roads built, but mainly of flat stones
Roman Road
that were laid in a volcanic concrete mixture, corduroy roads, bridle paths for horses and paved roads which "consisted of roadbeds of tamped rubble."(Roman road: Encyclopedia II -The Roman Road System) According to the 12 Tables the road was 2.45 m/ 8 ft wide at the straightaway and 4.90m/16ft at a curve. Roads were built in the straightest line possible and the Romans crowned their roads for better drainage. Military Technology The Roman military technology far exceeded many of its neighbors which led to many wins in battle. There two common catapults, the hand cranked manuballista hurled a bolt with an iron tip at 50 meters per second and the onager could heave rocks that would demolish wooden buildings.The soldiers were also better protected by their advanced armor, consisting of chain mail and overlapping iron plates. Their superior equipment helped their military campaigns become more successful at extending the empire.
Roman Technologies
Roman Aqueducts carrying water from the various mountains
Aqueducts
Aqueducts helped Rome flourish by keeping the citizens healthy with mountain water and later the sewage removed the waste to another location. At the peak of the Roman Empire, it had over 260 miles of aqueducts transporting water with about 30 visible arched structures. “Other Roman colonies that were deprived of a water source soon had aqueducts to supply them with the "source of life"." (Ancient Roman Architecture) Over eleven separate aqueducts supplied the city of Rome and were all built in just 500 years. "Most of the waterway system ran below ground and channels were bored through rock, or dug below the surface which carried the water." (Ancient Roman Aqueducts) After reaching the city the water would flow into cisterns (castella) or a large reservoir where it would run through lead pipes to public fountains, baths and private villas that tapped into the network. When Rome had reached over one million inhabitants, they were capable of delivering up to 1 cubic meter of water per person in the city.
The Roman Aqueduct Arches
Roman roads, called viae, exceeded 80,000 km and the ancient saying was that “all roads lead to Rome.” They were essential for growth of the empire which were used to transport the armies, trade goods – short traffic - and communication – network of postal stations.
Construction
Their were several types of roads built, but mainly of flat stones
Military Technology
The Roman military technology far exceeded many of its neighbors which led to many wins in battle. There two common catapults, the hand cranked manuballista hurled a bolt with an iron tip at 50 meters per second and the onager could heave rocks that would demolish wooden buildings. The soldiers were also better protected by their advanced armor, consisting of chain mail and overlapping iron plates. Their superior equipment helped their military campaigns become more successful at extending the empire.
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Bibliography:
Humphrey, John W. Ancient Technology. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group Inc., 2006.
"Roman Aqueducts". UNVR History. December 4, 2008
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"Roman Roads - Construction of a Road". Roman road - Construction of a Road:
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Shram, Wike D. "Roman Aqueducts". December 4, 2008
<http://www.romanaqueducts.info/index.html>.
Shutter, Jane. "Roman Aqueducts". Richmond University. December 3, 2008
<http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webunits/greecerome/Romearch2.html>.
Taylor, Timothy . "Roman Roads". Historic UK. December 2, 2008
<http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/England-History/RomanRoads.htm>.
"The Ancient Roman Architecture". Geography Sites. December 2, 2008
<http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Workshop/5220/ancient/roman.html>.